Anafranil

[Guest guest]

Anyone have any experience with this older drug? It's a tricyclic

antidepressant. Matt is trying it. Just wondered

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Hi there Bonnie!

My daughter, who is 11, has taken Anafranil for about a year now and it helps

her a lot! I take it as well. There's a strong family history in my family. :0(

The only side effects that I have observed or experienced is sleepiness, (we

both take before bed because of this, although, for my daughter at her worst, it

was welcome) and my daughter also has to keep fruits and veggies in her diet

daily as it can cause some backing up...if you know what I mean.

The other side effect can be dry mouth...but I dont really notice that.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

To:

From: bhamelburg@...

Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:16:16 +0000

Subject: Anafranil

Anyone have any experience with this older drug? It's a tricyclic

antidepressant. Matt is trying it. Just wondered

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Bonnie, I don't personally have any experience with Anafrail. I do know of

someone who recently was at and they put her on Anafrail. It is my

understanding that it worked great for her OCD. I don't think it worked as well

for her depression though. I hope it works for your son. How is he doing

overall? Any improvement? Stormy

________________________________

To:

Sent: Thu, April 21, 2011 11:16:16 AM

Subject: Anafranil

Anyone have any experience with this older drug? It's a tricyclic

antidepressant. Matt is trying it. Just wondered

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I'm taking him home tomorrow. His behavior changed 3 days after he was

admitted (I believe when they put him on a higher dose of AP). However, since

then, he's been extremely anxious, obsessive, and agoraphobic. He's lost weight

and isn't sleeping well at all. I think the environment there is just too

overwhelming. I also think he's on too high a dose of AP, but they won't

listen. I think this is a lot better than the last hospital he was in, but

anxious kids don't do well with oppositional kids or those with conduct disorder

and this describes at least half of the kids in his unit. He's pertrified.

I am nervous about bringing him home still unstable (though not suicidal or

psychotic), but I really do think he'll get better at home. The final

impression is still not clear to me though I asked pointed questions...mood

disorder versus seasonal affective disorder with OCD co-morbidity or autistic

spectrum disorder with OCD, panic disorder? I specifically asked the

psychiatrist what her impression of his presentation was...she said that he is

complicated...he has a movement disorder (I knoew that), panic disorder (knew

that too) and perhaps OCD, and he has a neurological developmental delay. He

also had some psych testing done (not sure how valid in his state of being) - I

don't have those results yet.

I would have liked to have him evaluated longer, but he can't tolerate it and

they can't get his symptoms under control. You can't imagine the suffering - up

36 hrs straight, ate the equivalent of just 2 1/2 meals over the past 5 days

(only when I come to visit). He talks non-stop about throwing up and paces the

floor hours a day. He's really leaving the hospital worse off than when

admitted - less functional anyway.

In the end, I'm not much further than when we started in terms of his immediate

future. I plan to get a copy of his hospital chart and review it with his

doctor. I'll gradually get him back to school if he can handle it while I

figure out what to do next about that. I'm thinking about looking for an

education consultant to help determine what best suits his needs. If I can't get

things straight, I'll keep him home and try to school him myself while I

continue to look for answers. I just can't let doctors, hospitals, schools

cause more harm even if the intent is to help. If the answer is somewhere in

the future, we'll just have to do the best we can and try to offer him something

good in life. I really feel so alone in my decision making - no one seems to

understand him or know what he needs, that's pretty scary. I'm beginning to

feel like I may not find a good solution - I hope my family can all cope with

that.

Bonnie

>

> Bonnie, I don't personally have any experience with Anafrail. I do know of

> someone who recently was at and they put her on Anafrail. It is my

> understanding that it worked great for her OCD. I don't think it worked as

well

> for her depression though. I hope it works for your son. How is he doing

> overall? Any improvement? Stormy

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To:

> Sent: Thu, April 21, 2011 11:16:16 AM

> Subject: Anafranil

>

>

> Anyone have any experience with this older drug? It's a tricyclic

> antidepressant. Matt is trying it. Just wondered

>

> Bonnie

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just a quick note...there is a virtual public school option, just a resource for

you if you need it, k12 has virtual public (free) schools in 17 states. My

children all do this and it works well for us. They are sent all their

materials, have a teacher and an online " school " where daily work is provided

for them. They attend online teaching sessions a few times per week, etc...Go to

k12.com for more info as it may be available in your state.

This system gives us flexibility and is void of all the " school " drama.

It was also very helpful when our daughter was at her worst.

I realize this may not be an option for your family, but I alsways felt better

knowing that there were options.

Take care,

>>

To:

From: bhamelburg@...

Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 02:00:54 +0000

Subject: Re: Anafranil

Thanks. I'm taking him home tomorrow. His behavior changed 3 days after he was

admitted (I believe when they put him on a higher dose of AP). However, since

then, he's been extremely anxious, obsessive, and agoraphobic. He's lost weight

and isn't sleeping well at all. I think the environment there is just too

overwhelming. I also think he's on too high a dose of AP, but they won't listen.

I think this is a lot better than the last hospital he was in, but anxious kids

don't do well with oppositional kids or those with conduct disorder and this

describes at least half of the kids in his unit. He's pertrified.

I am nervous about bringing him home still unstable (though not suicidal or

psychotic), but I really do think he'll get better at home. The final impression

is still not clear to me though I asked pointed questions...mood disorder versus

seasonal affective disorder with OCD co-morbidity or autistic spectrum disorder

with OCD, panic disorder? I specifically asked the psychiatrist what her

impression of his presentation was...she said that he is complicated...he has a

movement disorder (I knoew that), panic disorder (knew that too) and perhaps

OCD, and he has a neurological developmental delay. He also had some psych

testing done (not sure how valid in his state of being) - I don't have those

results yet.

I would have liked to have him evaluated longer, but he can't tolerate it and

they can't get his symptoms under control. You can't imagine the suffering - up

36 hrs straight, ate the equivalent of just 2 1/2 meals over the past 5 days

(only when I come to visit). He talks non-stop about throwing up and paces the

floor hours a day. He's really leaving the hospital worse off than when admitted

- less functional anyway.

In the end, I'm not much further than when we started in terms of his immediate

future. I plan to get a copy of his hospital chart and review it with his

doctor. I'll gradually get him back to school if he can handle it while I figure

out what to do next about that. I'm thinking about looking for an education

consultant to help determine what best suits his needs. If I can't get things

straight, I'll keep him home and try to school him myself while I continue to

look for answers. I just can't let doctors, hospitals, schools cause more harm

even if the intent is to help. If the answer is somewhere in the future, we'll

just have to do the best we can and try to offer him something good in life. I

really feel so alone in my decision making - no one seems to understand him or

know what he needs, that's pretty scary. I'm beginning to feel like I may not

find a good solution - I hope my family can all cope with that.

Bonnie

>

> Bonnie, I don't personally have any experience with Anafrail. I do know of

> someone who recently was at and they put her on Anafrail. It is my

> understanding that it worked great for her OCD. I don't think it worked as

well

> for her depression though. I hope it works for your son. How is he doing

> overall? Any improvement? Stormy

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To:

> Sent: Thu, April 21, 2011 11:16:16 AM

> Subject: Anafranil

>

>

> Anyone have any experience with this older drug? It's a tricyclic

> antidepressant. Matt is trying it. Just wondered

>

> Bonnie

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have tried many times to be off medication, but eventually it seems the

OCD/depression kicks back in and I go back on it.

Anafranil

Thanks for your reply! Do you need to stay on Anafranil for life once you start?

Have you had any side effects? Also wondering about cost - we don't have any

insurance but son is eligible for Medicaid until age 18.

Rhonda

Update from

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > So sorry I couldn't post earlier. I tried a few times but for some reason

it bounced back via webmail.

> >

> > Well.......I am back home now, just flew in this evening. My son is now at

's, and not a moment too soon! I'm glad I prepped myself mentally for a

nightmare ordeal getting him there because it definitely was one. From beginning

to end, every step of the way he was extremely difficult to deal with.

> >

> > The MD did an amazing job with the " intervention " on Tuesday morning, but

I don't think anyone could have done a good enough job for my son not to

completely flip out about going. Despite giving him Ativan and later on some

Valium, neither one phased him in the least or helped with his major

anxiety/stress.

> >

> > On top of everything else, on the way to the airport a crane toppled over

on the main highway so we had to sit for an hour not moving and barely made our

plan on time. Meanwhile, my son peed all over the back seat of my car so we had

to pull off the highway and I had to run in the store and get a dishrag, soap

and water to clean it because I was leaving the car in the parking garage for 3

days in very warm weather.

> >

> > Every step of the way, my son didn't want to get in our out of the car,

then once he finally got out at the airport he sat down on the ground in the

parking lot. If my STBX husband wasn't there, there's no way I could have

handled it on my own. Even with the two of us it was almost impossible!

> >

> > When we got to the terminal, I grabbed a wheelchair and that was a

lifesaver because an attendant pushed the wheelchair so my son wasn't going to

try anything with someone else pushing. We get through security and I realize I

left my cell phone in the car. I go running top speed to the parking lot and

back, and after I come back I find out that while I was gone who do they pick

out to pat down??? My son in the wheelchair!! Totally freaked him out and he was

already so stressed to begin with!

> >

> > The next morning, we finally got him to 's then he wouldn't get out

of the car. Eventually he did get out and the program Director came outside to

talk with him and start the process. We were SO impressed with how he handled

it! My son was sitting on the bench outside, so the directory immediately got

down on one knee to be at eye level with him and started talking. I was blown

away with how he was able to really connect with my son despite his terrible

state.

> >

> > Eventually he signed the paperwork and was admitted.The process was pretty

long, so he mostly sat in a chair outside in the hall or laid on one of the

sofas while my husband and I met and talked with everyone. At one point I got up

to go out in the hall and check on my son. He was sitting in a chair and I look

down and his shorts are soaking wet, he had peed in the chair!! One one hand I

was mortified, but on the other hand I was glad that it happened right as we

were admitting him so they could see first-hand. As usual, he insisted it was

water.

> >

> > He is miserable there now, but that's to be expected. He's having a

terrible time with his tics, but that's to be expected as well from the stress

of the whole thing. Even under the best of circumstances it's a huge adjustment

for any teenager to be away from home, but especially under these circumstances.

> >

> > So far, we are VERY impressed with all the staff, the facility and the

whole operation. They do not seem to leave any stone unturned there when it

comes to getting every minute detail about the kids during admitting. I think in

my son's case it will be a pretty long haul because despite the fact that he's

wasted away to nothing, is peeing all over the place, and living the life of a

complete recluse, he still insists that there is " nothing wrong with him, " and

said the same to his psychiatrist and therapist. He is in such SEVERE denial in

every respect that to get him to the point of recognizing and acknowledging he

has issues will be no easy feat. Then, and only then, will he be able to begin

the work with CBT, ERP, etc. to get to the point of eventually being able to

return home.

> >

> > Coming home to a childless home this evening and walking by my son's empty

room was so very difficult and heartbreaking. I have been living on high-alert

24/7 for such a long time now dealing with my son that my nervous system became

accustomed to that and it's going to be really tough making such a big

adjustment to almost an opposite extreme. I'm trying to take things one day at a

time now, it's the only way to do this. I just hope and pray that my son's case

is not too complex or too advanced at this point for 's to help him.

> >

> > I was thinking of you all while i was there and remembering all of your

words of support and encouragement, and it truly helped me get through this

awful ordeal. Thanks SO much again, from the bottom of my heart!

> >

> >

> >

> >